Thoughts on Braun decision, Votto's spring arrival

Well, now that position players have reported across Arizona and Florida, I thought I'd weigh-in at the end of the week regarding the news around baseball.

Let's start with the obvious --Ryan Braun and his 50-game suspension being overturned.  To put it simply, I'm happy.  I'm glad the reigning NL MVP had his reputation restored to a certain degree.  There are still plenty of questions that remain however.  Questions as to what actually happened to his urine sample once it was taken last October 1st and whether those actions could have led to a positive test.  We may never know the answer, so let's start with what we do know.

First, the process MLB and the Player's Association collectively bargained worked.  Braun was tested.  That test allegedly triggered positive for an illegal substance.  Braun appealed to an arbitrator who ruled in Braun's favor.  It means he will not have to sit out the first 50 games of the upcoming 2012 baseball season.

Second, I found Braun credible during his press conference Friday.  How he handled himself and the case he made for himself came across as sincere and truthful.  As a fan I want to believe him, if for nothing else than the integrity of the game.  It didn't look good when the news of this positive test leaked out a month after Braun won the MVP.

Third, we should have never known about this positive test in the first place.  Shame on whoever leaked this information to ESPN (who broke the story) in the first place.  This whole process -- the notification of the positive test and the appeal process -- was supposed to be confidential.  Had that happened and Braun's 50-game ban was upheld by the arbitrator, the news of his suspension would have broken this week.  Since it was overturned, we would have never known and he wouldn't have to go forward trying to convince the media and the public he's a clean player.  But aren't you glad the news leaked and we can all go forward with a critical eye instead of being kept in the dark, you say?  No.

My fourth and final point of what we do know, the arbitrator ruled in Braun's favor.  I believe in due process and if an independent third party found says the test isn't valid, that's good enough for me.  At least for now.  Did Braun get off on a technicality or did something happen for his sample to trigger a false positive?  Right now we don't know and we may never know.  For certain, this isn't the last we hear about this case.

I find it laughable the reports of MLB considering legal action to have the arbitrator's decision overturned.  They, like the Player's Association, agreed to this process in collective bargaining.  So the ruling by an independent third party should be the end of this no matter who came out on top.

Now you might be asking why, as a Reds fan, I'm not disappointed Braun won't miss the first 50 games of the season?  Well, it's because I want the Reds to beat the best to win the NL Central Division.  I don't want it handed to them on a silver platter.  Which is how it would be portrayed with Pujols and Fielder now the American League and Braun suspended.

Finally, I'm told that some internet posts to the Cincinnati Enquirer's story on Joey Votto seem to indicate the fan base turning on the All-Star first baseman.  To me there were no quotes from Joey that bothered me.  He's a private guy and wants to keep any contract talk between the parties that matter, the Reds and himself

Let's also let the record show that the engineers behind this Votto contract hysteria is the Enquirer itself!  My goodness, the man has two-years left on his current deal.  I've never seen a player badgered over his future when free agency is two years out.  Heck this paranoia started when Votto signed his 3-year extension last offseason as the Enquirer was all too quick to point out that the contract only bought out Votto's arbitration years and he could still leave via free agency after that.  Certainly the national media (i.e. Ken Rosenthal, Phil Rogers and Tom Verducci, etc.) has helped by fanning the flames as well.  I mean heaven forbid they discuss the Reds prospects this year.  No, no let's just talk about how another small market team that builds itself into a contender but can't afford to sign its players to long-term lucrative contracts.  With the Enquirer leading the charge by screaming "The Sky is Falling" from the jump, it's no wonder the fan base could turn on Joey while he's still wearing a Reds uniform!  Here's the Enquirer's Votto story and here's how his arrival was reported on Reds.com by Mark Sheldon.  Feel free to judge for yourself.  Look if Joey leaves via free agency, he has every right.  I'll be disappointed and broken-hearted if he leaves but he has done nothing to justify booing him and I doubt he ever will.